We’re Missing Out On Targets – Should We Be Concerned?
“IT’S not my business that there is talk about whether I go to Liverpool or stay. It doesn’t matter to me, I am Roma,” were the words spoken by Fabio Borini on Tuesday when he was asked about whether he had given consideration to a move to Liverpool.
The Italian striker, having spent last season at the Italian club, had decided to stay with Roma after a good season, not just turning Liverpool down but dismissing any possible interest in a fairly offhand manner.
From my point-of-view, it was something of a blessing for us, as I didn’t believe he was the right type of player to solve our goal-scoring issues and would have cost too much to sit on the bench, but the way our interest wasn’t even given a thought by the player is a worrying thing.
Then, following this news on the same morning, came reports that Tottenham had moved ahead of us as favourites to sign the Icelandic international, Gylfi Sigurdsson from Hoffenheim. This was of serious concern. Given how much he impressed last season, not to mention his Premier League experience, age, potential fee/bargain potential, he would’ve represented a good bit of business for the club. And following Brendan Rodger’s move up from Swansea, it appeared as if the Reds were in pole (or, more like sole) position to sign the attacking midfielder.
On the one hand, it would seem to be a strange move that Tottenham are considering making a signing without a manager being in place, but on the other it’s perhaps more concerning that Sigurdsson might be thinking about a move to a club that doesn’t even have a manager, over us.
We’re very aware that, in terms of attracting players, our star has fallen considerably in recent years and we were probably incredibly lucky that there wasn’t a greater interest in Luis Suarez when we moved in to sign him up last year but the level of player that appear to be either turning their noses up at our interest or choosing clubs that, in the past, we would’ve easily seen off in the transfer market is of grave concern. Make no mistake, this isn’t us taking on giants such as Barcelona or Real Madrid for the new Messi or Ronaldo, this is a couple of players a few tiers below that who really look to have chosen moves to a couple of clubs that up until a few seasons ago would’ve lost out to us each and every time.
Another Liverpool target that may have had his head turned is Porto winger James Rodriguez. Having found himself linked – albeit, tentatively – with the Reds in recent months, the last few days have revealed that Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is weighing up a bid and, should both clubs submit a bid, I’d be surprised to see the 20 year old Columbian international look any further than Old Trafford.
Now, many may just look at this as a number of players weighing up their options and simply choosing to move to a different club and, being the usual eternal optimist that I am, I would agree, more often than not. However, the amount of players being heavily linked with a move out of the club would suggest that there is a pattern emerging. Both Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger have been linked to Manchester City in the past fortnight and it would seem it is simply a case of whichever player City opts for will be on his way out.
It has been a long time since we’ve been in this position, struggling to interest good players (never mind any great ones) and seemingly having to let our best players leave to in order to fund the moves for these players but it’s been coming for some time now, with barely a transfer window since 2009-10 passing us by without a top player moving on or a top transfer target turning us down.
At the moment, we appear to be in something of a vicious circle – season of under-performing, new manager, new manager unable to attract top targets, season of under-performing, new manager, etc. and this summer seems to have followed on in much the same way. It was always a concern for me personally, that a manager of Brendan Rodger’s reputation (that’s reputation, not calibre) would not be a huge pull for most of the good-to-very good players across Europe, and it would seem that that has become the case with players like Sigurdsson and Borini feeling their futures are better served elsewhere.
One of my primary reasons for backing Benitez to return as manager was his reputation across Europe, the reputation that brought in the likes of Alonso, Torres and Mascherano and I wouldn’t be surprised if the installation of the young British manager has sent a signal out to a number of our transfer targets: this is a new coach, starting a new project and, while that is hardly anybody’s fault, unfortunately most high-quality young players (or even those in their mid-twenties) are ambitious and want to move to clubs that are either already in, or will be challenging for, Champions League places or league titles. That is just a plain fact.
Of course, this could all just be gossip and paper talk because, as far as we’re aware, there haven’t been any official bids or approaches for any of these probable targets but, as they say, there’s no smoke without fire. Losing out to Barcelona, Madrid, Inter or any of the top clubs across Europe I can usually stomach but the day one of our preferred targets turns us down in favour of a club like Tottenham will be a very sad day indeed. Still it’s early days yet and until anybody starts actually putting in some bids, we won’t know for sure who’s going where but should the rumours prove true, it may be the time to start worrying.
Live4Liverpool is recruiting columnists. For further info contact the site editor at live4liverpool@snack-media.com
Follow us on Twitter here: @live4Liverpool and ‘Like’ us on Facebook
Newcastle News 24/7
June 28th, 2012
It is concerning to see that young players who have previously worked with Rogers are turning us down, leave alone those who do not know him.
Perhaps we can disregard Borini, it seems he had his mind made up on staying with Roma in his home country. However Sigurdsson’s change of mind (at least thats what it seems like from the articles on different papers) is alarming to me.
But these are early days still, so…
June 28th, 2012
I trust the new manager 100%
June 28th, 2012
……And so should you! ynwa
June 28th, 2012
Let’s be clear fsg are not gonna spend big on transfers so I wouldn’t worry who we’re gonna sign as they will not be world beaters. Fsg spent 300 million acquiring the club and want a return. All the smoke and mirrors about a new stadium/ redeveloped anfield is exactly that. Fsg will buy cheap players and flip on. Champions league football is a bonus not a target for them despite what they say. They didnt buy Liverpool for the love of the club as they are business men. It is a good long term investment. Rafa wasn’t interviewed because we wants to win but to win you need to spend big and that’s not part of the model. Look forward to a financially stable unsuccessful club.
June 28th, 2012
is that right, the same fsg that bought the red sox, two years later they won a world series for the first time in like 50 years. then two years after that they won it again. oh ya rafa was not interviewed because he is a cancer, that would destroy the club from the inside to outside. again.
June 28th, 2012
We spent big before & look where that got us. We need the right signings not necessarily for big money. We need players who have something to prove & show it at LFC. So stop getting wrapped up with big spend ideas. We have to be shrewd with the signings.
June 28th, 2012
If Brendan wants Sigurdesson and loses out to spurs, he has failed on his first test. He has to realise its dog eat dog at the bigger clubs and I critisized his honesty and being a gentleman to his past Swansea by allowing the player time and Swansea to speak to him first. You are Liverpool manager now, forget Swansea, you want the player get him straight away !!!! Painful way to learn this lesson, because without doubt he is a fantastic player and will score lots of goals, link up play with whoever he signs for and at 8 mil a bloody bargain ! Hats of to spurs who obviously have a recruiting system which works regardless of a manager, this is what our owners are trying to put in place here. The truth is, Spurs have become a more attractive option to anyone outside Liverpool, and that’s a reality hard to swallow
June 28th, 2012
We have to face, Liverpool is no longer attractive, so why could we do? Gamble on young players? Try to take some mercenary? I really don’t know who could and would come to anfield to add to the team?
but one thing sure : current players need to work a lot and we have to help them.
YNWA
June 29th, 2012
Get JOE ALLEN, CLIENT DEMPSEY, ADAM JOHNSON, HUGO LLORIS. sell reina, spearing, charlie adam, downing. Our line up for now should be. HUGO LLORIS, GLEN JOHNSON, MARTIN SKRTEL, DANIEL AGGER, AQUILANI, LUCAS LAVIA, JOE ALLEN, ADAM JOHNSON/STURRIDGE, CLIENT DEMPSEY (ANDY CARROLL), LUIS SUAREZ.
July 1st, 2012
We need to go in for the likes of Gaston Ramirez, Junior Hoilett, Try for Gonzalo Higuain and even Falcao (due to Athletico still owing money on him), Adam Johnson, maybe even Wilfred Zaha, if players that Rodgers seriously believes and goes in for that may improve our team dont come to us for one reason or another, then we should look to bring through our youth players then wasting money on second choice players. We to try out the likes of Coady, Suso, Sterling, Morgan, Adjorjan, etc in league cup and europa games one or two of them at a time to see if they can seriously make the cut.